Department of International Culture and Communication

What are our roles in the global society of the 21st Century?  They are to understand diverse cultures and values of the world from the perspective of the Japanese, but at the same time to act as a citizen of the world, transcending the difference of nationalities.  In the Department of International Culture and Communication, in order to develop outstanding personnel required of the new age, we have two areas of concentration: the International Culture and the International Business.

By studying these areas intensively and extensively, students can obtain deep understanding of and keen sensitivity to the international society.  Foster your dream at the Department of International Culture and Communication, and prepare yourself to go out to the world.

Both Theory and Practice

In the International Culture Course, students can study wide variety of subjects that deal with Western culture, Asian and Oceanic culture, and Japanese culture, including that of the local area, thereby obtaining accurate and deep understanding of history and culture.

The International Business Course offers a broad range of subjects from international business, through international relations and international tourism to international protocol.  It also offers an abundance of information-related subjects that are indispensable for business, enabling students to obtain technical knowledge and skills that can be useful in the real world.

With the purpose of supporting the two courses mentioned above, and in order to equip students with communication skills for the global community, numerous English language courses are provided.  We also offer advanced level French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Korean language courses.  By taking those advanced foreign language courses, students can gain excellent communication skills to work oversea.

Move on to Benedictine

Our college has a sister school arrangement with Benedictine College in Kansas, U.S.A.  Every year, several students go to Benedictine for a period of one year while still on the register at our college.  We have established a system whereby those students who are sent can graduate in four years by transferring the credits acquired at Benedictine to Shirayuri.

Benedictine College is a private coeducation college that offers over 35 majors.  The College is ranked high in America's Best Colleges, a magazine specializing in education, and has produced many congressmen, attorneys and doctors in the past.  The former Assistant Minister of the Environment of Kenya, Dr. Wangari Maathai, who received the 2004 Nobel Peace Award, is an alumnus of this college.

Experiencing Other Cultures

The objective of our field trip is to actually visit countries whose culture and history have been studied in the classroom through lectures and seminars.

In the 2008 academic year, we are preparing a two-week language training course at the National University of Singapore.  The participants will take English classes provided by the university and receive training at companies tackling environmental issues.  They will also visit the neighboring country of Malaysia. Furthermore, the participants will stay at a dormitory for foreign students, so that they can interact with students from other countries.  The participants will surely have a unique experience by coming into contact with the diverse cultures of the multiracial nation of Singapore.